Women Leading The Blockchain Revolution: “Women know well how to thrive in any space, so I would say, trust yourself, reach out to each other, and do what you know to preserve your sense of self” With Jen Hill and Tyler Gallagher

I think women know well how to thrive in any space, so I would say, trust yourself, reach out to each other, and do what you know to preserve your sense of self. For me, I have had to let go of the pressure I put on myself to make people understand why it matters […]

I think women know well how to thrive in any space, so I would say, trust yourself, reach out to each other, and do what you know to preserve your sense of self. For me, I have had to let go of the pressure I put on myself to make people understand why it matters to have diverse representation in this industry. Instead, I share my thoughts on that, continue to educate myself, and contribute in the best ways I know how.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Jen Hill. Hill is the Founder of Project Bitmobile, is in charge of Stuff + Things at the MiningStore, and is a feature writer for 21Cryptos news site and magazine.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you share with us the story of how you decided to pursue this career path? What lessons can others learn from your story?

Thank you for inviting me. I was immediately struck by the opportunities that blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies provide. Especially in terms of opportunity for contribution from and benefit for those typically marginalized in various ways. Whether it be individuals who have no access to banks and could use crypto to store and send money or for individuals under-represented in technology and financial who can learn to code using blockchain technology and gain meaningful employment, the emergence of technology or a new store of value has the potential to benefit a large population of people who deserve it.

I began by investing in Bitcoin and trading. I was reading everything I could and diving deep into ‘crypto twitter’ and listening to podcasts Like “Unchained” by Laura Shin and “What Bitcoin Did” by Peter McCormack. I immediately wanted to increase accessibility for women in my own way, so I started making videos and writing blog posts about how and why to buy bitcoin and introductions to blockchain and mining. That led me to become a feature reporter for 21Cryptos — the world’s leading cryptocurrency and blockchain news site and magazine. Along the way, I developed a project, called Project Bitmobile, that had me interviewing people on the streets asking them for their opinions about cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology while developing a specialized program geared toward young women that would teach them to code and about these concepts.

The lessons that I learned are to be bold and to make connections. I also learned how to take risks, that mistakes are inevitable, and how to express myself through this adventure.

Can you tell me about the most interesting projects you are working on now?

Right now, I am getting into mining and am really excited about it. Mining is one aspect of crypto that I haven’t gotten technical with until now. I am working at the MiningStore assisting with nuts and bolts but also creating content related to mining and supporting with their efforts in putting together Bitcaves — shipping containers that are outfitted with miners and placed near sub-stations or solar panel fields. I see a connection between the adoption of crypto and the widespread use of blockchain technology as being related.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

Linda Xie quit her job at Coinbase to start her own investment management company specializing in crypto assets. She is also an advisor to one of my favorite projects 0x.

One day, she tweeted that she was going to set aside time for one on one calls with women in the interest of having more women participate in the industry. I DM’d her and she wrote right back! We chatted the following week about the project and she gave me tips about who might be interested in partnering and provided me with lots of ideas and insight. She even sent me a job position she thought I would be good for months later. I was really encouraged by this gesture. She wrote about her “Crypto office hours”on Medium.

Also, V. V is the Founder of 21Cryptos. I initially reached out to V to see if 21Cryptos Magazine wanted to sponsor Project Bitmobile and we haven’t stopped collaborating since. V has been encouraging, insightful, and has operated with a level of dedication and integrity that has really inspired me.

What are the 5 things that most excite you about blockchain and crypto? Why?

1. In general, I love the nature of this industry — conversations about creating a future that we want to see.

2. The possibilities of absolute trust through verification.

3. The disruptive nature of both.

4. An industry whose rules and norms are being created newly by those who are participating and contributing to it.

5. The opportunity to empower individuals over banks and big data companies.

What are the 5 things worry you about blockchain and crypto? Why?

I don’t have too many specific concerns about blockchain or crypto. I think we are going through the growing pains of emerging technology and a brand new way to store and exchange value. I am, however, concerned that there are not enough industry leaders (like Amber Baldet and Andreas Antonopoulos) who are able to advocate for this industry in an effective way. I am also concerned that regulation will be designed in such a way that limits the full potential of digital stores of value. Other then that, I don’t have specific worries about the industry. I think there are bad actors here, just like in every industry and am hopeful that with progress, adoption, and smart regulation, we will shake that out. In a similar way, I believe that there are grave issues with equity, but that those are specific to blockchain technology or crypto and I see the potential to level the playing field across industries because of this technology.

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share a story?

I developed the C-Block program for young women with a curriculum that focuses on Cryptography, Coding, and Consciousness. The first camp took place in Durham, NC in the summer. This was a free week-long program for 5th and 6th-grade African-American girls. Lesson plans included conversations about how paper money is printing, debt, and the possibilities of a new way to exchange value as well as practical lessons in basic coding, cryptography, and games that helped students understand what a blockchain is. Students received their own laptop and virtual space to host their code and creations.

As you know there are not that many women in your industry. Can you share 3 things that you would you advise to other women in the blockchain space to thrive?

I think women know well how to thrive in any space, so I would say, trust yourself, reach out to each other, and do what you know to preserve your sense of self. For me, I have had to let go of the pressure I put on myself to make people understand why it matters to have diverse representation in this industry. Instead, I share my thoughts on that, continue to educate myself, and contribute in the best ways I know how.

Can you advise what is needed to engage more women into the blockchain industry?

To create an inclusive space takes intentionality so this is a great question. I think a lot of people do want more diverse participation, they just don’t know how to foster that kind of environment. First, I would suggest educating oneself about inequality and social barriers. The reasons behind industry gender and racial imbalances are not apparent to the majority of people. From there, if you are in a position of power, you have the opportunity to ensure that women are represented in positions that have an impact at every level. One other piece of specific advice would be to scrap all women groups or panels and instead make sure that women are represented in the various groups or panels that you have influence or control over.

What is your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share a story of how that had relevance to your own life?

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” — Helen Keller.

I had to remind myself of this often last year. If I want to win every time, I will have to play a very safe and small game. I choose to attempt to make a great impact, sometimes achieving great success and other times great failure learning lessons, building character, and discovering my self-expression along the way.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

I would love to see a mentoring program that is specifically designed to reach into under-represented youth populations in this industry and develop their skills and networks to provide more opportunity for them to secure these future tech industry jobs.

Tyler Gallagher is the CEO and Founder of Regal Assets, a “Bitcoin IRA” company. Regal Assets is an international alternative assets firm with offices in the United States, Canada, London and Dubai focused on helping private and institutional wealth procure alternative assets for their investment portfolios. Regal Assets is an Inc. 500 company and has been featured in many publications such as Forbes, Bloomberg, Market Watch and Reuters. With offices in multiple countries, Regal Assets is uniquely positioned as an international leader in the alternative assets industry and was awarded the first ever crypto-commodities license by the DMCC in late 2017. Regal Assets is currently the only firm in the world that holds a license to legally buy and sell cryptos within the Middle East and works closely with the DMCC to help evolve and grow the understanding and application of blockchain technology. In addition to his role with Regal Assets, Tyler is a regular contributor to Forbes, Arianna Huffington's Thrive Global and Authority Magazine. Tyler has also been featured in many news publications and is a proud member of the Forbes Finance Council a private invite only-group of hand-selected industry leaders.

Share your comments below. Please read our commenting guidelines before posting. If you have a concern about a comment, report it here.

“People look for retreats for themselves, in the country, by the coast, or in the hills . . . There is nowhere that a person can find a more peaceful and trouble-free retreat than in his own mind. . . . So constantly give yourself this retreat, and renew yourself.”